The Day We Dreamed at Old Trafford

March 8, 2022, marks ten years since one of Athletic Club’s most iconic matches. On this day in 2012, Athletic fans took over Manchester and witnessed one of the great Europa League victories, as the Lions beat the Red Devils 2-3 at Old Trafford.

After topping the group and then eliminating FC Lokomotiv Moscow over two legs in the Round of 32, the draw for the last 16 set up a date with destiny at Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams.

The first leg at Old Trafford saw Marcelo Bielsa’s side put on a display of attractive, attacking football. Goals from Fernando Llorente, Óscar de Marcos and Iker Muniain made it 2-3 before the return leg in Bilbao.

But, above and beyond what was experienced at Old Trafford, what will stick with all forever was the passion on show from the Athletic fans. More than 8,000 Athleticzales travelled to Manchester and, while staying respectful, they were in fine voice from the moment they landed until their return home.

The EITB (Basque Television) cameras captured scenes that reflect the incredible atmosphere in the English city on March 8, 2012.

A total of 28 charter flights left Bilbao and Vitoria for Manchester on the morning of the match. In addition to that, thousands of fans made their way to Manchester by car, bus or train.

Finals aside, the more than 8,000 fans who travelled to the UK was a record number for a LaLiga team at an away match in Europe. It also made an impact in Manchester, where it had been a long time since the Mancunians had seen such a large and exemplary away support.

There was only respect on show with no incidents between the two set of fans. And to top it all off, the Manchester police sent a letter of congratulations to Athletic for the outstanding behaviour of our fans.

The return leg saw San Mamés experience another party. Athletic sealed a place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win. After the match in Bilbao, then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the Lions.

He said: “What we have seen tonight and last Thursday is a team whose work rate is higher than anyone I have seen in Europe, and that takes you a long way.

“Apart from the fantastic work rate, they have some good qualities also. It’s not just their work rate getting them where they are at the moment – they’re showing some very good combination football. It’s a wonderful thing to see such incredible energy and determination to win football matches.”

Athletic went on to reach a European final for only the second time in Club history, the previous one coming in against Juventus in the 1977 UEFA Cup.